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Total sales crack £200million as dust settles in Arizona

Two Ferraris and the original Batmobile were the top three sellers as more than 2000 classics generated £216million during a frenzied auction week in Scottsdale.

Top price went to a 1958 Ferrari 250GT California Spider, which netted $8.25million at Gooding, simultaneously becoming the most valuable car ever to be sold in Arizona. The auction house would set 16 world records over two days.

Second-placed sale went to RM’s 1960 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta Competizione, which made $8.14million. A fully documented 1967 Shelby 427 ‘Semi-Competition’ Cobra ($2,007,500) was another notable sale for the company.

Shock of the week was the $4.62million paid for the Barrett-Jackson auctioned Lincoln Futura-based Barris Batmobile, the weekend’s third-placed sale.

The company also sold a 1947 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand Sport ($2.03million, a record for the model) and an ex-Clark Gable 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé ($2.03 million).

There were plenty of surprises, too, including a 1969 L88 Corvette Roadster that sold for a mammoth $825,000, a Ferrari F50 that made $1,375,000 and a 1956 barnfind Lancia Aurelia that went for $803,000, more than a pristine example!

All the auction houses recorded strong figures with Gooding selling 12 cars for more than $1million apiece (with a sale total that rose by 31% to £52.5million), while Barrett-Jackson managed the same feat with 10 machines, raising £68million over five days from 1500 cars that went under the hammer.

RM’s one-day sale managed to net the company an impressive £22.9million and Bonhams, which made only its second trip to Scottsdale, doubled its takings from last year, making almost £8.2million.

Figures from Russo and Steele’s 200-car No Reserve Sunday are yet to be announced, but could mean the week’s sales better £220million.